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Stroope S, Kent BV, Schachter AB, Kanaya AM, Shields AE. Why Is Religious Attendance Linked to More Anxiety in U.S. South Asians? The Mediating Role of Congregational Neglect. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:3068-3075. [PMID: 37721667 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01764-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous research has identified a positive association between religious attendance and anxiety in U.S. South Asians. The current study assesses the mediating role of congregational neglect as a potential mechanism explaining this association. DESIGN Analyses relied on data from the Study on Stress, Spirituality, and Health (SSSH) questionnaire in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study (n = 936), the largest community-based study of health among U.S. South Asians. Analyses were conducted using path analysis and adjusted for a variety of background characteristics. RESULTS Results confirmed that higher levels of religious service attendance were associated with higher levels of anxiety. Congregational neglect was a significant mediator in this relationship, explaining 27% of the association between religious attendance and anxiety. Congregational neglect also had the second largest standardized coefficient in the model. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that congregational neglect plays an important intervening role in the connection between religious service attendance and anxiety among U.S. South Asians. The findings move beyond description, flagging a relevant social process which underlies the relationship. By recognizing the potential adverse effects of religious attendance on anxiety in this population, it may be possible to develop interventions aimed at enhancing social inclusion in South Asian religious communities. In addition to practical implications, this study highlights the need for further research on how communal religious participation shapes mental health in ethnic and racial minority populations in the United States.
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Grants
- K24 HL112827 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R01 HL093009 NHLBI NIH HHS
- UL1 RR024131 NCRR NIH HHS
- 1R01HL093009, 2R01HL093009, R01HL120725, UL1RR024131, UL1TR001872, and P30DK098722 NIH HHS
- 59607 & 62016 John Templeton Foundation
- 1R01HL093009, 2R01HL093009, R01HL120725, UL1RR024131, UL1TR001872, and P30DK098722 NIH HHS
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Blake Victor Kent
- Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA, USA
- Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Anna Boonin Schachter
- Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alka M Kanaya
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexandra E Shields
- Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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2
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Sauerteig-Rolston MR, Barnes LL, Thomas PA, Angel JL, Ferraro KF. Religious Involvement and Cognitive Function Among White, Black, and Hispanic Older Adults. Res Aging 2024:1640275241269949. [PMID: 39110906 DOI: 10.1177/01640275241269949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
We examined whether religious involvement was associated with cognitive function among older adults in the 2006-2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Using growth curve analysis, we found the association between religious involvement and cognition varied by facet of religious involvement and race and Hispanic ethnicity. Attending religious services with friends was associated with higher initial levels of cognitive function (b = 0.22, p < .05). For Hispanic older adults, frequent attendance at religious services was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline (b = 0.16, p < .01). Stratified models by race and Hispanic ethnicity demonstrated that religious salience was associated with lower initial levels of cognitive function among non-Hispanic White adults (b = -0.19, p < .01). We found no association between religious involvement and cognitive function among non-Hispanic Black respondents. In sum, elements of religious involvement are positively or negatively related to cognitive function in later life and vary by race and ethnicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison R Sauerteig-Rolston
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center on Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Lisa L Barnes
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Patricia A Thomas
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center on Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jacqueline L Angel
- Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, Center on Aging and Population Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Kenneth F Ferraro
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center on Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Haney AM, Lane SP. Religious Coping Is Differentially Associated with Physiological and Subjective Distress Indicators: Comparing Cortisol and Self-Report Patterns. Behav Med 2023:1-9. [PMID: 37964623 PMCID: PMC11093886 DOI: 10.1080/08964289.2023.2277926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Use of religious coping in response to life stress is associated with improved mental and physical health outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of religious coping on conscious self-reported and non-conscious physiological stress responses to an acute, real-world stressor to better understand how this benefit may be conferred. This study examined the trajectory of subjective distress and cortisol patterns leading up to and following a stressful college exam using daily diary and ambulatory saliva samples, respectively (N students = 246). Religious coping was not significantly associated with subjective reports of distress. However, prior to the exam, greater use of religious coping was associated with an ostensibly more adaptive accelerated return to a cortisol baseline. This protective effect was no longer significant when the exam was over, suggesting that religious coping acts as a protective buffer against physiological stress responses rather than aiding in subjective recovery from stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison M. Haney
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
| | - Sean P. Lane
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
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Abstract
ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between eight measures of religious involvement and five anxiety disorders among a nationally representative sample of African-Americans ( N = 3403). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition , World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess 12-month and lifetime prevalence for each disorder. Logistic regression indicated weekly service attendance was inversely associated with 12-month and lifetime panic disorder, lifetime agoraphobia, and 12-month and lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prayer was inversely associated with 12-month agoraphobia, 12-month social phobia, and lifetime PTSD. Listening to religious radio and looking to God for strength were also inversely related to, respectively, 12-month and lifetime panic disorder. Conversely, reading religious materials was positively associated with 12-month panic disorder, 12-month agoraphobia, lifetime PTSD, and lifetime generalized anxiety disorder. The results are discussed in light of conceptual models that specify multiple and sometimes divergent pathways through which religion impacts health, and suggestions for clinicians addressing anxiety disorders are delineated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Linda M Chatters
- School of Public Health and Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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5
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Stroope S, Kent BV, Zhang Y, Spiegelman D, Kandula NR, Schachter AB, Kanaya A, Shields AE. 'Mental health and self-rated health among U.S. South Asians: the role of religious group involvement'. ETHNICITY & HEALTH 2022; 27:388-406. [PMID: 31466458 PMCID: PMC7048668 DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2019.1661358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Only one community-based study has assessed religious group involvement and health outcomes among South Asians in the U.S., with mixed results. Here, using a large, South Asian community-based sample, the effects of six religious group involvement predictors - religious tradition, attendance, group prayer, giving/receiving congregational emotional support, congregational neglect, and congregational criticism - were examined in relation to four health outcomes: self-rated health, positive mental health functioning, trait anxiety, and trait anger.Design: The study used a new religion/spirituality questionnaire in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis Among South Asians Living in America (MASALA), the largest study of mental and physical well-being among U.S. South Asians. Associations were assessed cross-sectionally using OLS regression in both the full sample (N = 928) and a subsample of congregation members (N = 312).Results: Jains reported better self-rated health compared to Hindus and Muslims. Group prayer involvement, when measured ordinally, was positively associated with self-rated health and mental health functioning. In reference group comparisons, individuals who participated in group prayer once/day or more had lower levels of anxiety and anger compared to several comparison groups in which individuals prayed less than once a day. Religious service attendance was associated with higher levels of anxiety. Giving/receiving congregational emotional support was positively associated with self-rated health and mental health functioning, and inversely associated with anxiety. Congregational criticism was associated with higher levels of anger and anxiety.Conclusions: This study provided a new assessment of religious group involvement and health in the U.S. South Asian population. Religious group participation was associated with mental and self-rated health in well-controlled models, indicating this is a fruitful area for further research. Group religious involvement may be a health-promoting resource for U.S. South Asians who are religiously active, but it is not an unalloyed boon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Stroope
- Louisiana State University Department of Sociology, Baton Rouge, LA
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA
| | - Blake Victor Kent
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ying Zhang
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA
| | - Donna Spiegelman
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Namratha R. Kandula
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Anna B. Schachter
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA
| | - Alka Kanaya
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Alexandra E. Shields
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA
- Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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6
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Kent BV, Stroope S, Kanaya AM, Zhang Y, Kandula NR, Shields AE. Private religion/spirituality, self-rated health, and mental health among US South Asians. Qual Life Res 2019; 29:495-504. [PMID: 31650305 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-019-02321-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Connections between private religion/spirituality and health have not been assessed among US South Asians. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between private religion/spirituality and self-rated and mental health in a community-based sample of US South Asians. METHODS Data from the Mediators of atherosclerosis in South Asians living in America (MASALA) study (collected 2010-2013 and 2015-2018) and the attendant study on stress, spirituality, and health (n = 881) were analyzed using OLS regression. Self-rated health measured overall self-assessed health. Emotional functioning was measured using the mental health inventory-3 index (MHI-3) and Spielberger scales assessed trait anxiety and trait anger. Private religion/spirituality variables included prayer, yoga, belief in God, gratitude, theistic and non-theistic spiritual experiences, closeness to God, positive and negative religious coping, divine hope, and religious/spiritual struggles. RESULTS Yoga, gratitude, non-theistic spiritual experiences, closeness to God, and positive coping were positively associated with self-rated health. Gratitude, non-theistic and theistic spiritual experiences, closeness to God, and positive coping were associated with better emotional functioning; negative coping was associated with poor emotional functioning. Gratitude and non-theistic spiritual experiences were associated with less anxiety; negative coping and religious/spiritual struggles were associated with greater anxiety. Non-theistic spiritual experiences and gratitude were associated with less anger; negative coping and religious/spiritual struggles were associated with greater anger. CONCLUSION Private religion/spirituality is associated with self-rated and mental health. Opportunities may exist for public health and religious care professionals to leverage existing religion/spirituality for well-being among US South Asians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake Victor Kent
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Stroope
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Sociology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
| | - Alka M Kanaya
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA, USA.,University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Namratha R Kandula
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alexandra E Shields
- National Consortium on Psychosocial Stress, Spirituality, and Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard/MGH Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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7
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You S, Yoo JE, Koh Y. Religious practices and mental health outcomes among Korean adults. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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8
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Hopkins PD, Shook NJ. A review of sociocultural factors that may underlie differences in African American and European American anxiety. J Anxiety Disord 2017; 49:104-113. [PMID: 28494387 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Preliminary evidence indicates there may be differences in the prevalence and severity of anxiety in African Americans and European Americans. A number of sociocultural risk and protective factors have been suggested to contribute to these group differences, such as salience of physical illnesses, discrimination, stigma toward mental illness, religiosity, and ethnic identity. In this paper, the literature concerning each of these factors is reviewed. Overall, the strongest evidence was found for ethnic identity and stigma toward mental illness as factors underlying group differences in anxiety. Ethnic identity and stigma toward mental illness consistently differed by racial group and were associated with anxiety in African Americans. Ethnic identity may buffer against the negative consequences of anxiety, reducing prevalence rates in African Americans. Stigma toward mental illness may decrease African Americans willingness to report anxiety symptoms, reducing overall prevalence rates but increasing the severity of treated cases. The research regarding discrimination, salience of physical illnesses, and religiosity was less clear. Much more research is required, but the findings of this review suggest that future studies should put particular emphasis on stigma toward mental illness and ethnic identity as important factors in understanding African American anxiety outcomes.
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9
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Taylor RJ, Chatters LM, Lincoln K, Woodward AT. Church-Based Exchanges of Informal Social Support among African Americans. RACE AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS 2017; 9:53-62. [PMID: 28286581 DOI: 10.1007/s121552-017-9195-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the correlates of the types of instrumental support exchanges that occur between church members among African Americans. Exchanges of four types of instrumental support are examined: transportation assistance, help with chores, financial assistance and help during illness. Data for this study are from the National Survey of American Life Re-Interview, the follow-up survey to the National Survey of American Life which is a nationally representative sample of the African American population. We found that African Americans were more likely to both give and receive support in situations involving illness, followed by transportation, financial assistance, and help with chores. For each of the four types of instrumental support, respondents indicate that they provide more assistance to others than they receive. For all eight dependent variables, those with lower levels of education were more actively engaged in receiving and providing support than their higher educated counterparts. Higher levels of religious service attendance were associated with higher levels of support, which underscores the importance of involvement in faith communities for assistance. Overall, our findings confirm the importance of church-based informal social support between African Americans and documents within group diversity as both recipients and providers of assistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karen Lincoln
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California
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10
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Taylor RJ, Chatters LM, Lincoln K, Woodward AT. Church-Based Exchanges of Informal Social Support among African Americans. RACE AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS 2017; 9:53-62. [PMID: 28286581 PMCID: PMC5344191 DOI: 10.1007/s12552-017-9195-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the correlates of the types of instrumental support exchanges that occur between church members among African Americans. Exchanges of four types of instrumental support are examined: transportation assistance, help with chores, financial assistance and help during illness. Data for this study are from the National Survey of American Life Re-Interview, the follow-up survey to the National Survey of American Life which is a nationally representative sample of the African American population. We found that African Americans were more likely to both give and receive support in situations involving illness, followed by transportation, financial assistance, and help with chores. For each of the four types of instrumental support, respondents indicate that they provide more assistance to others than they receive. For all eight dependent variables, those with lower levels of education were more actively engaged in receiving and providing support than their higher educated counterparts. Higher levels of religious service attendance were associated with higher levels of support, which underscores the importance of involvement in faith communities for assistance. Overall, our findings confirm the importance of church-based informal social support between African Americans and documents within group diversity as both recipients and providers of assistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karen Lincoln
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California
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11
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Park CL, Masters KS, Salsman JM, Wachholtz A, Clements AD, Salmoirago-Blotcher E, Trevino K, Wischenka DM. Advancing our understanding of religion and spirituality in the context of behavioral medicine. J Behav Med 2017; 40:39-51. [PMID: 27342616 PMCID: PMC5183527 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-016-9755-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Recognizing and understanding the potentially powerful roles that religiousness and spirituality (RS) may serve in the prevention and amelioration of disease, as well as symptom management and health related quality of life, significantly enhances research and clinical efforts across many areas of behavioral medicine. This article examines the knowledge established to date and suggests advances that remain to be made. We begin with a brief summary of the current knowledge regarding RS as related to three exemplary health conditions: (a) cardiovascular disease; (b) cancer; and, (c) substance abuse. We then focus on particular concerns for future investigations, emphasizing conceptual issues, possible mediators and moderators of relationships or effects, and methodology. Our discussion is framed by a conceptual model that may serve to guide and organize future investigations. This model highlights a number of important issues regarding the study of links between RS and health: (a) RS comprise many diverse constructs, (b) the mechanisms through which RS may influence health outcomes are quite diverse, and (c) a range of different types of health and health relevant outcomes may be influenced by RS. The multidimensional nature of RS and the complexity of related associations with different types of health relevant outcomes present formidable challenges to empirical study in behavioral medicine. These issues are referred to throughout our review and we suggest several solutions to the presented challenges in our summary. We end with a presentation of barriers to be overcome, along with strategies for doing so, and concluding thoughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal L Park
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
| | - Kevin S Masters
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, 80217, USA
| | - John M Salsman
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine & the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake, Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Amy Wachholtz
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, 80217, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Andrea D Clements
- Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
| | - Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, Brown University School of Medicine and School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kelly Trevino
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Danielle M Wischenka
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshivah University, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
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12
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Levin J. "For They Knew Not What It Was": Rethinking the Tacit Narrative History of Religion and Health Research. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2017; 56:28-46. [PMID: 27812844 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-016-0325-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Over the past couple of decades, research on religion and health has grown into a thriving field. Misperceptions about the history and scope of this field, however, continue to exist, especially among new investigators and commentators on this research. Contrary to the tacit narrative, published research and writing date to the nineteenth century, programmatic research to the 1950s, and NIH funding to 1990; elite medical journals have embraced this topic for over 100 years; study populations are religiously and sociodemographically diverse; and published findings are mostly positive, consistent with psychosocial theories of health and confirmed by comprehensive reviews and expert panels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Levin
- Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97236, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
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13
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Religiosity is a protective factor against many health problems, including alcohol use disorders (AUD). Studies suggest that religiosity has greater buffering effects on mental health problems among US Blacks and Hispanics than Whites. However, whether race/ethnic differences exist in the associations of religiosity, alcohol consumption and AUD is unclear. METHOD Using 2004-2005 NESARC data (analytic n = 21 965), we examined the relationship of public religiosity (i.e. frequency of service attendance, religious social group size), and intrinsic religiosity (i.e. importance of religious/spiritual beliefs) to frequency of alcohol use and DSM-IV AUD in non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks, Hispanics and NH Whites, and whether associations differed by self-identified race/ethnicity. RESULTS Only public religiosity was related to AUD. Frequency of religious service attendance was inversely associated with AUD (NH Whites β: -0.103, p 0.05) or Hispanics (β: -0.002, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS US adults reporting greater public religiosity were at lower risk for AUD. Public religiosity may be particularly important among NH Blacks, while intrinsic religiosity may be particularly important among NH Whites, and among Hispanics who frequently attend religious services. Findings may be explained by variation in drinking-related norms observed among these groups generally, and in the context of specific religious institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Meyers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,State University of New York,Downstate Medical Center,Brooklyn,NY,USA
| | - Q Brown
- Department of Epidemiology,Mailman School of Public Health,Columbia University,New York,NY,USA
| | - B F Grant
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biometry,National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,Bethesda,MD,USA
| | - D Hasin
- Department of Epidemiology,Mailman School of Public Health,Columbia University,New York,NY,USA
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14
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Moorley CR, Cahill S, Corcoran NT. Life after Stroke: Coping mechanisms among African Caribbean Women. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2016; 24:769-778. [PMID: 26094703 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In the UK, stroke is the third most common cause of death for women and the incidence in African Caribbean women is higher than that in the general population. Stroke burden has major consequences for the physical, mental and social health of African Caribbean women. In order to adjust to life after stroke, individuals affected employ a range of strategies which may include personal, religious (church) or spiritual support (i.e. prayer), individual motivation or resignation to life with a disability. This study explored these areas through the coping mechanisms that African Caribbean women utilised post stroke in the context of stroke recovery and lifestyle modification efforts needed to promote healthy living post stroke. A qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis was adopted. Seven women were recruited into the study. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were audio recorded and were transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using a four-stage framework: familiarisation, sense making, developing themes, and data refinement and analysis. Three main themes on coping emerged: the need to follow medical rules to manage stroke, strength and determination, and the use of religion and faith to cope with life after stroke. These findings illustrate both a tension between religious beliefs and the medical approach to stroke and highlight the potential benefits that religion and the church can play in stroke recovery. Implications for practice include acknowledgement and inclusion of religion- and church-based health promotion in post-stroke recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin R Moorley
- Adult Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London, UK.
| | - Sharon Cahill
- School of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Nova T Corcoran
- School of Life Sciences, University of South Wales, Cardiff, UK
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15
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Mantovani N, Pizzolati M, Edge D. Exploring the relationship between stigma and help-seeking for mental illness in African-descended faith communities in the UK. Health Expect 2016; 20:373-384. [PMID: 27124178 PMCID: PMC5433535 DOI: 10.1111/hex.12464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Stigma related to mental illness affects all ethnic groups, contributing to the production and maintenance of mental illness and restricting access to care and support. However, stigma is especially prevalent in minority communities, thus potentially increasing ethnically based disparities. Little is known of the links between stigma and help‐seeking for mental illness in African‐descended populations in the UK. Objective and study design Building on the evidence that faith‐based organizations (FBOs) can aid the development of effective public health strategies, this qualitative study used semi‐structured interviews with faith groups to explore the complex ways in which stigma influences help‐seeking for mental illness in African‐descended communities. A thematic approach to data analysis was applied to the entire data set. Setting and participants Twenty‐six men and women who had varying levels of involvement with Christian FBOs in south London were interviewed (e.g. six faith leaders, thirteen ‘active members’ and seven ‘regular attendees’). Results Key factors influencing help‐seeking behaviour were as follows: beliefs about the causes of mental illness; ‘silencing’ of mental illness resulting from heightened levels of ideological stigma; and stigma (re)production and maintenance at community level. Individuals with a diagnosis of mental illness were likely to experience a triple jeopardy in terms of stigma. Discussion and conclusion ‘One‐size‐fits‐all’ approaches cannot effectively meet the needs of diverse populations. To ensure that services are more congruent with their needs, health and care organizations should enable service users, families and community members to become active creators of interventions to remove barriers to help‐seeking for mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Mantovani
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Micol Pizzolati
- Department of Economics, Management, Society and Institutions, Università del Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Dawn Edge
- Centre for New Treatments & Understanding in Mental Health (CeNTrUM), Institute of Brain, Behaviour & Mental Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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16
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Stacciarini JMR, Vacca R, Wiens B, Loe E, LaFlam M, Pérez A, Locke B. FBO Leaders' Perceptions of the Psycho-social Contexts for Rural Latinos. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2016; 37:19-25. [PMID: 26818929 PMCID: PMC4955657 DOI: 10.3109/01612840.2015.1076914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Latinos comprise the largest minority rural population in the US, and they are often exposed to adverse social health determinants that can detrimentally affect their mental health. Guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, this study aimed to describe faith-based organizations (FBOs) leaders' perceptions of the contexts affecting the mental well-being of rural Latino immigrants and potential approaches to mental health promotion for these immigrants. This is a descriptive, qualitative arm of a larger study in which community-academic members have partnered to develop a culturally-tailored mental health promotion intervention among rural Latinos. FBO leaders (N = 15) from different denominations in North Florida were interviewed until saturation was reached. FBO leaders remarked that in addition to religiosity, which Latinos already have, more community building and involvement are necessary for the promotion of mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raffaele Vacca
- a University of Florida, College of Nursing , Gainesville , Florida , USA
| | - Brenda Wiens
- b University of Florida, College of Public Health and Health Professions , Gainesville , Florida , USA
| | - Emily Loe
- a University of Florida, College of Nursing , Gainesville , Florida , USA
| | - Melody LaFlam
- c Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. , Bronson , Florida , USA
| | - Awilda Pérez
- d Holy Family Catholic Church , Williston , Florida , USA
| | - Barbara Locke
- e Public Health Department , Levy County , Bronson , Florida , USA
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17
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Salsman JM, Pustejovsky JE, Jim HS, Munoz AR, Merluzzi TV, George L, Park CL, Danhauer SC, Sherman AC, Snyder MA, Fitchett G. A meta-analytic approach to examining the correlation between religion/spirituality and mental health in cancer. Cancer 2015; 121:3769-78. [PMID: 26258536 PMCID: PMC4618157 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Revised: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Religion and spirituality (R/S) are patient-centered factors and often are resources for managing the emotional sequelae of the cancer experience. Studies investigating the correlation between R/S (eg, beliefs, experiences, coping) and mental health (eg, depression, anxiety, well being) in cancer have used very heterogeneous measures and have produced correspondingly inconsistent results. A meaningful synthesis of these findings has been lacking; thus, the objective of this review was to conduct a meta-analysis of the research on R/S and mental health. Four electronic databases were systematically reviewed, and 2073 abstracts met initial selection criteria. Reviewer pairs applied standardized coding schemes to extract indices of the correlation between R/S and mental health. In total, 617 effect sizes from 148 eligible studies were synthesized using meta-analytic generalized estimating equations, and subgroup analyses were performed to examine moderators of effects. The estimated mean correlation (Fisher z) was 0.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-0.23), which varied as a function of R/S dimensions: affective R/S (z = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.33-0.43), behavioral R/S (z = 0.03; 95% CI, -0.02-0.08), cognitive R/S (z = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.06-0.14), and 'other' R/S (z = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.03-0.13). Aggregate, study-level demographic and clinical factors were not predictive of the relation between R/S and mental health. There was little indication of publication or reporting biases. The correlation between R/S and mental health generally was positive. The strength of that correlation was modest and varied as a function of the R/S dimensions and mental health domains assessed. The identification of optimal R/S measures and more sophisticated methodological approaches are needed to advance research.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M. Salsman
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - James E. Pustejovsky
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Heather S.L. Jim
- Health Outcomes and Behavior Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Alexis R. Munoz
- School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Login George
- Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Crystal L. Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Suzanne C. Danhauer
- Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Allen C. Sherman
- Behavioral Medicine, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Mallory A. Snyder
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - George Fitchett
- Department of Religion, Health and Human Values, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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18
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Reinert KG, Campbell JC, Bandeen-Roche K, Sharps P, Lee J. Gender and Race Variations in the Intersection of Religious Involvement, Early Trauma, and Adult Health. J Nurs Scholarsh 2015; 47:318-27. [PMID: 26077834 PMCID: PMC4486635 DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to determine gender and race variations in regards to the influence of religious involvement (RI) as a moderator of the effects of early traumatic stress (ETS) on health-related quality of life among adult survivors of child abuse. DESIGN A cross-sectional predictive design was used to study Seventh-day Adventist adults in North America (N = 10,283). METHODS A secondary analysis of data collected via questionnaires was done using multiple regression. RESULTS Data revealed that women had a significantly higher prevalence of any or all ETS subtypes, except for physical abuse prevalence, which was the same for both genders. Blacks reported a significantly higher prevalence of at least one ETS subtype than did Whites, except for neglect, where Whites had a higher prevalence. Exposure to at least one ETS subtype was associated with worse negative effect on mental health (B = -2.08, p < .0001 vs. B = -1.54, p < .0001) and physical health (B = -2.01, p < .0001 vs. B = -1.11, p < .0001) for women compared to men. Among those exposed to all ETS subtypes (n = 447), Whites had significant worse physical health, with White women having almost two times the negative effect on physical health (B = -4.50, p < .0001) than White men (B = -2.87, p < .05). As for RI moderation, based on tests of three-way interactions of race-RI-ETS, there were no associated differences. However, tests of three-way interactions of gender-RI-ETS showed a significant buffering effect. Among those with high levels of negative religious coping (RC), women exposed to ETS had significantly worse physical health (B = -1.28) than men. CONCLUSIONS Results give evidence of gender and racial differences on the magnitude of the ETS-health effect, as well as gender differences in ETS-health buffering by RC. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings suggest gender and racial differences must be considered when devising holistic nursing interventions for improving health outcomes of early trauma survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia G Reinert
- Kappa, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacquelyn C Campbell
- Anna D. Wolf Chair and Professor, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Karen Bandeen-Roche
- Chair of the Dept. Biostatistics and Professor, Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Phyllis Sharps
- Associate Dean for Community and Global Programs and Professor, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jerry Lee
- Professor, Loma Linda School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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19
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Jordão LMR, Saraiva LM, Sheiham A, Freire MCM. Relationship between rates of attending religious services and oral health in Brazilian adolescents. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2014; 42:420-7. [DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Laís M. Saraiva
- School of Dentistry; Federal University of Goiás; Goiânia-GO Brazil
| | - Aubrey Sheiham
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health; University College London; London UK
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